The Wind in the Willows 🐸🛶 Abbe's Bookshelf

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[00:04:05] Tonight then, we're all in for an old school treat,

[00:04:08] as we're selecting another title from my classic bookshelf.

[00:04:11] This is a wonderful tale called The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham.

[00:04:16] Have you heard of it?

[00:04:17] It follows a mole, and a rat, and a badger, and a toad,

[00:04:22] all living on the same stretch of riverbank.

[00:04:25] Let's dive in and hear all about their adventures.

[00:04:27] Get cozy, get comfy, and let's begin.

[00:04:39] The mole had been working very hard all the morning,

[00:04:44] spring-cleaning his little home.

[00:04:46] First with brooms, then with dusters,

[00:04:49] then on ladders and steps and chairs,

[00:04:53] with a brush and a pail of whitewash,

[00:04:55] till he had dust in his throat and eyes and splashes of whitewash

[00:04:59] all over his black fur,

[00:05:02] and an aching back and weary arms.

[00:05:05] Spring was moving in the air above,

[00:05:08] and in the earth below and around him,

[00:05:11] penetrating even his dark and lowly little house

[00:05:15] with its spirit of divine discontent and longing.

[00:05:20] It was small wonder then,

[00:05:22] that he suddenly flung down his brush on the floor,

[00:05:26] said,

[00:05:26] Bother!

[00:05:27] And,

[00:05:28] Oh, rats!

[00:05:29] And also,

[00:05:31] I do not like spring cleaning,

[00:05:34] and bolted out of the house,

[00:05:36] without even waiting to put on his coat.

[00:05:39] Something up above was calling him imperiously,

[00:05:43] and he made for the steep little tunnel,

[00:05:46] which answered, in his case,

[00:05:48] to the graveled carriage drive,

[00:05:50] owned by animals,

[00:05:52] whose residences are nearer to the sun and air.

[00:05:55] So he scraped,

[00:05:57] and scratched,

[00:05:59] and scrabbled,

[00:06:00] and scrooged.

[00:06:02] And then,

[00:06:03] he scrooged again,

[00:06:05] and scrabbled,

[00:06:06] and scratched,

[00:06:07] and scraped,

[00:06:08] working busily with his little paws,

[00:06:10] and muttering to himself,

[00:06:12] Up we go,

[00:06:14] up we go,

[00:06:16] till,

[00:06:17] at last,

[00:06:19] Pop!

[00:06:19] His snout came out into the sunlight,

[00:06:22] and he found himself rolling in the warm grass of a great meadow.

[00:06:28] This is fine,

[00:06:30] he said to himself.

[00:06:32] This is better than washing.

[00:06:36] The sunshine struck hot on his fur.

[00:06:39] Soft breezes caressed his heated brow.

[00:06:43] And after the seclusion of the cellarage he'd lived in for so long,

[00:06:48] the carol of happy birds fell on his dulled hearing,

[00:06:51] almost like a shout.

[00:06:54] Jumping off all his four legs at once,

[00:06:57] in the joy of living,

[00:06:59] and the delight of spring without its cleaning,

[00:07:02] he pursued his way across the meadow,

[00:07:05] till he reached the hedge on the further side.

[00:07:09] It all seemed too good to be true.

[00:07:13] Hither and thither through the meadows he rambled busily,

[00:07:18] along the hedgerows,

[00:07:19] across the copses,

[00:07:21] finding everywhere birds building,

[00:07:24] flowers budding,

[00:07:26] leaves thrusting,

[00:07:28] everything happy and progressive and occupied.

[00:07:33] And instead of having an uneasy conscience pricking him

[00:07:37] and whispering,

[00:07:38] washing,

[00:07:39] he somehow could only feel how jolly it was

[00:07:42] to be the only idle dog among all these busy citizens.

[00:07:46] After all,

[00:07:48] the best part of a holiday

[00:07:50] is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself

[00:07:53] as to see all the other fellows busy working.

[00:07:58] He thought his happiness was complete,

[00:08:02] when as he meandered aimlessly along,

[00:08:05] suddenly he stood by the edge of a full-fed river.

[00:08:08] Never in his life had he seen a river before,

[00:08:13] this sleek,

[00:08:14] sinuous,

[00:08:15] full-bodied animal,

[00:08:17] chasing and chuckling,

[00:08:19] gripping things with a gurgle,

[00:08:21] and leaving them with a laugh,

[00:08:23] to fling itself on fresh playmates

[00:08:26] that shook themselves free

[00:08:28] and were caught and held again.

[00:08:30] All was a shake and a shiver,

[00:08:34] glints and gleams and sparkles,

[00:08:38] rustle and swirl,

[00:08:40] chatter and bubble.

[00:08:42] The mole was bewitched,

[00:08:44] entranced,

[00:08:45] fascinated.

[00:08:47] By the side of the river,

[00:08:49] he trotted as one trots when very small,

[00:08:52] by the side of a man

[00:08:53] who holds one spellbound by exciting stories,

[00:08:57] and when tired at last,

[00:08:59] he sat on the bank,

[00:09:01] while the river still chattered onto him,

[00:09:04] a babbling procession

[00:09:06] of the best stories in the world,

[00:09:09] sent from the heart of the earth

[00:09:11] to be told at last

[00:09:13] to the insatiable sea.

[00:09:16] As he sat on the grass

[00:09:18] and looked across the river,

[00:09:21] a dark hole in the bank opposite,

[00:09:24] just above the water's edge,

[00:09:26] caught his eye,

[00:09:27] and dreamily he fell

[00:09:29] to considering what a nice,

[00:09:31] snug dwelling place it would make

[00:09:34] for an animal with few wants

[00:09:36] and fond of a riverside residence,

[00:09:39] above flood level

[00:09:41] and remote from noise and dust.

[00:09:45] As he gave,

[00:09:47] something bright and small

[00:09:49] seemed to twinkle

[00:09:50] down in the heart of it,

[00:09:53] vanished,

[00:09:53] then twinkled once more

[00:09:56] like a tiny star.

[00:09:58] But it could hardly be a star

[00:10:01] in such an unlikely situation,

[00:10:04] and it was too glittering

[00:10:06] and small for a glowworm.

[00:10:09] Then,

[00:10:10] as he looked,

[00:10:12] it winked at him,

[00:10:14] and so declared itself

[00:10:15] to be an eye,

[00:10:17] and a small face

[00:10:19] began gradually

[00:10:20] to grow up around it,

[00:10:21] like a frame

[00:10:22] round a picture.

[00:10:24] A brown little face

[00:10:27] with whiskers,

[00:10:29] a grave round face

[00:10:31] with the same twinkle

[00:10:33] in its eye

[00:10:34] that had first

[00:10:34] attracted his notice.

[00:10:37] Small, neat ears

[00:10:39] and thick, silky hair.

[00:10:42] It was the water rat.

[00:10:45] Then the two animals stood

[00:10:48] and regarded each other cautiously.

[00:10:51] Hello, mole,

[00:10:53] said the water rat.

[00:10:55] Hello, rat,

[00:10:57] said the mole.

[00:10:59] Would you like to come over?

[00:11:02] inquired the rat presently.

[00:11:05] How?

[00:11:06] said the mole

[00:11:07] rather pettishly,

[00:11:09] he being new to a river

[00:11:10] and riverside life

[00:11:12] in its ways.

[00:11:13] The rat said nothing

[00:11:15] but stooped

[00:11:16] and unfastened a rope

[00:11:18] and hauled on it,

[00:11:20] then lightly

[00:11:21] stepped into a little boat

[00:11:23] which the mole

[00:11:24] had not observed.

[00:11:26] It was painted blue outside

[00:11:28] and white within,

[00:11:30] and was just the size

[00:11:32] for two animals.

[00:11:34] And the mole's whole heart

[00:11:36] went out to it at once,

[00:11:38] even though he did not yet

[00:11:40] fully understand its uses.

[00:11:43] The rat sculled smartly across

[00:11:46] and made fast.

[00:11:48] Then he held up his forepaw

[00:11:50] as the mole stepped gingerly down.

[00:11:54] Lean on that,

[00:11:55] he said.

[00:11:56] Now then,

[00:11:58] step!

[00:11:58] And the mole,

[00:12:00] to his surprise

[00:12:01] and rapture,

[00:12:03] found himself

[00:12:04] actually seated

[00:12:05] in the stern

[00:12:06] of a real boat.

[00:12:08] This has been

[00:12:10] a wonderful day,

[00:12:12] said he,

[00:12:13] as the rat

[00:12:14] shoved off

[00:12:14] and took to the skulls again.

[00:12:16] Do you know

[00:12:17] I've never been

[00:12:19] in a boat before

[00:12:21] in all my life?

[00:12:23] What?

[00:12:24] cried the rat,

[00:12:26] open-mouthed.

[00:12:27] Never been

[00:12:29] in a...

[00:12:29] You never!

[00:12:32] Well,

[00:12:33] I...

[00:12:33] What have you

[00:12:34] been doing then?

[00:12:38] Is it so nice

[00:12:39] as all that?

[00:12:41] asked the mole

[00:12:42] shyly,

[00:12:43] though he was

[00:12:44] quite prepared

[00:12:45] to believe it

[00:12:46] as he leant back

[00:12:47] in his seat

[00:12:48] and surveyed

[00:12:49] the cushions,

[00:12:50] the oars,

[00:12:51] and all the

[00:12:52] fascinating fittings.

[00:12:53] And felt the boat

[00:12:55] sway lightly

[00:12:56] under him.

[00:12:58] Nice!

[00:12:59] It's the only thing,

[00:13:02] said the water rat

[00:13:03] solemnly,

[00:13:04] as he leant forward

[00:13:05] for his stroke.

[00:13:07] Believe me,

[00:13:09] my young friend,

[00:13:11] there is

[00:13:11] nothing,

[00:13:13] absolutely

[00:13:14] nothing,

[00:13:16] half so much

[00:13:17] worth doing

[00:13:17] as simply

[00:13:19] messing about

[00:13:20] in boats.

[00:13:21] Simply

[00:13:22] messing

[00:13:23] he went

[00:13:24] on dreamily,

[00:13:26] messing

[00:13:27] about

[00:13:27] in boats.

[00:13:30] Look ahead,

[00:13:31] rat,

[00:13:32] cried the mole

[00:13:33] suddenly.

[00:13:34] It was too late.

[00:13:36] The boat

[00:13:37] struck the bank

[00:13:38] full tilt.

[00:13:40] The dreamer,

[00:13:41] the joyous

[00:13:42] rat,

[00:13:42] lay on his back

[00:13:44] at the bottom

[00:13:44] of the boat,

[00:13:45] his heels

[00:13:46] in the air.

[00:13:49] Messing

[00:13:50] about in boats,

[00:13:52] in boats,

[00:13:53] or with boats,

[00:13:56] the rat went on

[00:13:57] composedly,

[00:13:58] picking himself up

[00:14:00] with a pleasant laugh.

[00:14:02] In or out of them,

[00:14:04] it doesn't matter.

[00:14:06] Nothing seems

[00:14:08] really to matter.

[00:14:10] That's the charm of it.

[00:14:11] whether you get away

[00:14:13] or whether you don't,

[00:14:16] whether you arrive

[00:14:17] at your destination

[00:14:18] or whether you reach

[00:14:19] somewhere else,

[00:14:21] or whether you never

[00:14:22] get anywhere

[00:14:23] at all,

[00:14:24] you're always

[00:14:25] busy and you

[00:14:26] never do

[00:14:27] anything in particular.

[00:14:29] And

[00:14:30] when you've done it,

[00:14:32] there's always

[00:14:33] something else

[00:14:34] to do.

[00:14:35] And you can do it

[00:14:37] if you like,

[00:14:37] but you'd much

[00:14:39] better not.

[00:14:40] Look here,

[00:14:42] if you've really

[00:14:43] got nothing else

[00:14:44] on hand this morning,

[00:14:46] supposing we

[00:14:47] drop down

[00:14:48] the river together

[00:14:49] and have a long

[00:14:50] day of it.

[00:14:52] The mole

[00:14:53] waggled his toes

[00:14:54] from sheer happiness,

[00:14:57] spread his chest

[00:14:58] with a sigh

[00:14:59] of full contentment,

[00:15:01] and leaned back

[00:15:03] blissfully

[00:15:04] into the soft

[00:15:05] cushions.

[00:15:05] What a day

[00:15:08] I'm having,

[00:15:09] he said.

[00:15:11] Let's start

[00:15:12] at once.

[00:15:14] Hold hard

[00:15:15] a minute

[00:15:16] then,

[00:15:17] said the rat.

[00:15:18] He looped

[00:15:19] the painter

[00:15:20] through a ring

[00:15:21] in his landing

[00:15:22] stage,

[00:15:22] climbed up

[00:15:23] into his hole

[00:15:24] above,

[00:15:25] and after

[00:15:26] a short interval

[00:15:27] reappeared,

[00:15:29] staggering

[00:15:29] under a fat

[00:15:31] wicker

[00:15:31] luncheon basket.

[00:15:33] Shove that

[00:15:34] under your feet,

[00:15:36] he observed

[00:15:37] to the mole,

[00:15:38] as he passed

[00:15:39] it down

[00:15:39] into the boat.

[00:15:41] Then he untied

[00:15:43] the painter

[00:15:43] and took

[00:15:44] the skulls

[00:15:45] again.

[00:15:47] What's inside

[00:15:48] it?

[00:15:49] asked the mole,

[00:15:50] wriggling

[00:15:51] with curiosity.

[00:15:53] There's

[00:15:54] cold chicken

[00:15:55] inside it,

[00:15:57] replied the rat

[00:15:58] briefly.

[00:15:59] Cold ham,

[00:16:01] cold beef,

[00:16:03] pickled gherkins,

[00:16:04] salad sandwiches.

[00:16:06] Oh,

[00:16:07] stop,

[00:16:08] stop,

[00:16:09] cried the mole.

[00:16:11] This is

[00:16:12] too wonderful.

[00:16:14] Do you really

[00:16:15] think so?

[00:16:16] inquired the rat

[00:16:17] seriously.

[00:16:19] It's only what

[00:16:20] I always take

[00:16:21] on these little

[00:16:22] excursions.

[00:16:24] The mole

[00:16:25] never heard

[00:16:26] a word

[00:16:27] he was saying,

[00:16:29] absorbed

[00:16:30] in the new life

[00:16:31] he was entering

[00:16:32] upon,

[00:16:33] intoxicated

[00:16:34] with the sparkle,

[00:16:36] the ripple,

[00:16:37] the scents

[00:16:38] and the sounds

[00:16:39] and the sunlight.

[00:16:41] He trailed

[00:16:42] a paw in the water

[00:16:44] and dreamed

[00:16:45] long waking

[00:16:46] dreams.

[00:16:48] The water rat,

[00:16:50] like the good

[00:16:51] little fellow

[00:16:52] he was,

[00:16:53] rode steadily

[00:16:54] on.

[00:16:56] I like your

[00:16:58] clothes awfully,

[00:16:59] old chap,

[00:17:00] he remarked

[00:17:02] after some

[00:17:02] half an hour

[00:17:03] or so had

[00:17:04] passed.

[00:17:05] I'm gonna

[00:17:06] get a black

[00:17:06] velvet suit

[00:17:07] myself

[00:17:08] someday,

[00:17:09] as soon as

[00:17:10] I can afford

[00:17:11] it.

[00:17:12] I beg your

[00:17:14] pardon,

[00:17:14] said the mole,

[00:17:16] pulling himself

[00:17:16] together with

[00:17:17] an effort.

[00:17:18] He must

[00:17:19] think me

[00:17:19] very rude,

[00:17:21] but

[00:17:21] this is so

[00:17:23] new to me.

[00:17:24] So

[00:17:25] this

[00:17:26] is a river?

[00:17:29] The

[00:17:30] river,

[00:17:31] corrected

[00:17:32] the rat.

[00:17:34] Do you

[00:17:35] really live

[00:17:36] by the river?

[00:17:37] What a

[00:17:38] jolly life!

[00:17:40] by it

[00:17:41] and

[00:17:42] with it

[00:17:43] and

[00:17:44] on it

[00:17:44] and

[00:17:45] in it,

[00:17:47] said the rat.

[00:17:48] It's brother

[00:17:49] and sister

[00:17:49] to me

[00:17:50] and

[00:17:51] aunts

[00:17:51] and

[00:17:52] company

[00:17:52] and

[00:17:53] food

[00:17:54] and

[00:17:54] drink

[00:17:54] and

[00:17:55] naturally

[00:17:56] washing.

[00:17:58] It's

[00:17:59] my world

[00:17:59] and I

[00:18:00] don't want

[00:18:01] any other.

[00:18:03] What it

[00:18:03] hasn't got

[00:18:04] is not

[00:18:05] worth having

[00:18:05] and what

[00:18:07] it doesn't

[00:18:07] know

[00:18:08] is not

[00:18:09] worth

[00:18:09] knowing.

[00:18:10] Oh,

[00:18:11] the times

[00:18:12] we've

[00:18:13] had

[00:18:13] together,

[00:18:14] whether

[00:18:15] in

[00:18:15] winter

[00:18:16] or

[00:18:17] summer,

[00:18:18] spring

[00:18:18] or

[00:18:19] autumn,

[00:18:20] it's

[00:18:20] always

[00:18:21] got its

[00:18:21] fun

[00:18:22] and

[00:18:22] its

[00:18:22] excitements.

[00:18:25] But

[00:18:26] isn't

[00:18:27] it a bit

[00:18:27] dull

[00:18:28] at times?

[00:18:29] The

[00:18:29] mole

[00:18:30] ventured

[00:18:30] to ask.

[00:18:31] Just

[00:18:32] you

[00:18:33] in the

[00:18:34] river

[00:18:34] and

[00:18:35] no one

[00:18:35] else

[00:18:35] to pass

[00:18:36] a word

[00:18:37] with?

[00:18:38] No

[00:18:39] one

[00:18:40] else

[00:18:40] to...

[00:18:42] Well,

[00:18:43] I mustn't

[00:18:43] be hard

[00:18:44] on you,

[00:18:45] said the

[00:18:45] rat

[00:18:46] with

[00:18:46] forbearance.

[00:18:47] You're

[00:18:48] new

[00:18:48] to it

[00:18:49] and of

[00:18:50] course

[00:18:50] you

[00:18:50] don't

[00:18:51] know.

[00:18:51] The

[00:18:52] bank

[00:18:52] is so

[00:18:53] crowded

[00:18:54] nowadays

[00:18:54] that many

[00:18:56] people

[00:18:56] are moving

[00:18:57] away

[00:18:57] altogether.

[00:18:58] Oh,

[00:18:59] no,

[00:18:59] it isn't

[00:19:00] what it

[00:19:01] used to

[00:19:01] be at

[00:19:02] all.

[00:19:03] Otters,

[00:19:04] kingfishers,

[00:19:06] dabchicks,

[00:19:08] moorhens,

[00:19:09] all of them

[00:19:10] about all

[00:19:11] day long

[00:19:12] and always

[00:19:14] wanting you

[00:19:15] to do

[00:19:16] something.

[00:19:17] As if

[00:19:18] a fellow

[00:19:18] had no

[00:19:19] business of

[00:19:20] his own

[00:19:21] to attend

[00:19:21] to.

[00:19:23] What lies

[00:19:25] over there?

[00:19:26] Asked the

[00:19:27] mole,

[00:19:28] waving a

[00:19:28] paw towards

[00:19:29] a background

[00:19:30] of woodland

[00:19:31] that darkly

[00:19:32] framed the

[00:19:33] water meadows

[00:19:34] on one side

[00:19:35] of the river.

[00:19:36] That?

[00:19:37] Oh,

[00:19:38] that's just

[00:19:39] the wild wood,

[00:19:40] said the

[00:19:41] rat shortly.

[00:19:42] We don't

[00:19:43] go there

[00:19:44] very much,

[00:19:45] we river

[00:19:45] bankers.

[00:19:47] Are there

[00:19:48] many nice

[00:19:49] people in

[00:19:49] there?

[00:19:50] Said the

[00:19:51] mole.

[00:19:53] Well,

[00:19:54] replied

[00:19:55] the rat,

[00:19:56] let me

[00:19:57] see,

[00:19:59] the squirrels

[00:20:00] are all

[00:20:00] right,

[00:20:01] and the

[00:20:02] rabbits,

[00:20:03] some of

[00:20:03] them,

[00:20:04] but rabbits

[00:20:05] are a

[00:20:05] mixed lot.

[00:20:07] And then

[00:20:08] there's

[00:20:08] badger,

[00:20:09] of course,

[00:20:10] he lives

[00:20:10] right in

[00:20:11] the heart

[00:20:11] of it,

[00:20:12] wouldn't

[00:20:12] live anywhere

[00:20:13] else

[00:20:13] either,

[00:20:14] if you

[00:20:14] paid him

[00:20:15] to do

[00:20:15] it.

[00:20:16] Dear

[00:20:16] old

[00:20:17] badger,

[00:20:17] nobody

[00:20:18] interferes

[00:20:19] with

[00:20:19] him.

[00:20:20] They'd

[00:20:21] better

[00:20:21] not,

[00:20:23] he added

[00:20:23] significantly.

[00:20:26] And

[00:20:27] beyond

[00:20:27] the

[00:20:27] wild

[00:20:28] wood

[00:20:28] again?

[00:20:29] The

[00:20:29] mole

[00:20:29] asked,

[00:20:30] where

[00:20:31] it's

[00:20:31] all

[00:20:32] blue

[00:20:32] and

[00:20:33] dim,

[00:20:34] and

[00:20:34] one

[00:20:34] sees

[00:20:35] what

[00:20:35] may

[00:20:35] be

[00:20:36] hills,

[00:20:37] or

[00:20:37] perhaps

[00:20:38] they

[00:20:38] mayn't,

[00:20:40] and

[00:20:40] something

[00:20:40] like

[00:20:41] the

[00:20:41] smoke

[00:20:42] of

[00:20:42] towns,

[00:20:43] or

[00:20:44] is it

[00:20:44] only

[00:20:45] cloud

[00:20:45] drift.

[00:20:48] Beyond

[00:20:48] the

[00:20:49] wild

[00:20:49] wood

[00:20:50] comes

[00:20:51] the

[00:20:51] wide

[00:20:52] world,

[00:20:53] said

[00:20:53] the

[00:20:53] rat,

[00:20:54] and

[00:20:55] that's

[00:20:56] something

[00:20:56] that

[00:20:57] doesn't

[00:20:57] matter,

[00:20:58] either to

[00:20:58] you

[00:20:59] or me.

[00:21:01] I've

[00:21:02] never

[00:21:02] been

[00:21:02] there,

[00:21:03] and

[00:21:03] I'm

[00:21:04] never

[00:21:04] going,

[00:21:05] nor

[00:21:05] you

[00:21:06] either,

[00:21:06] if

[00:21:06] you've

[00:21:07] got

[00:21:07] any

[00:21:07] sense

[00:21:07] at

[00:21:08] all.

[00:21:09] Don't

[00:21:09] ever

[00:21:10] refer

[00:21:10] to

[00:21:10] it

[00:21:11] again,

[00:21:11] please.

[00:21:12] Now

[00:21:13] then,

[00:21:14] here's

[00:21:14] our

[00:21:14] backwater

[00:21:15] at

[00:21:15] last,

[00:21:16] where

[00:21:16] we're

[00:21:16] going

[00:21:17] to

[00:21:17] lunch.

[00:21:19] Leaving

[00:21:20] the

[00:21:20] main

[00:21:20] stream,

[00:21:21] they

[00:21:21] now

[00:21:22] passed

[00:21:22] into

[00:21:23] what

[00:21:23] seemed

[00:21:24] at

[00:21:24] first

[00:21:24] sight

[00:21:25] like

[00:21:25] a

[00:21:25] little

[00:21:26] landlocked

[00:21:27] lake.

[00:21:31] Brown,

[00:21:33] snaky

[00:21:33] tree

[00:21:34] roots

[00:21:34] gleamed

[00:21:35] below

[00:21:36] the

[00:21:36] surface

[00:21:36] of

[00:21:37] the

[00:21:37] quiet

[00:21:37] water.

[00:21:39] The

[00:21:40] rat

[00:21:40] brought

[00:21:41] the

[00:21:41] boat

[00:21:41] alongside

[00:21:42] the

[00:21:42] bank,

[00:21:43] helped

[00:21:44] the

[00:21:44] still

[00:21:44] awkward

[00:21:45] mole

[00:21:45] safely

[00:21:46] ashore,

[00:21:47] and

[00:21:47] swung

[00:21:47] out

[00:21:48] the

[00:21:48] luncheon

[00:21:48] basket.

[00:21:50] The

[00:21:50] mole

[00:21:51] begged

[00:21:51] as a

[00:21:52] favour

[00:21:52] to

[00:21:52] be

[00:21:52] allowed

[00:21:53] to

[00:21:53] unpack

[00:21:53] it

[00:21:54] all

[00:21:54] by

[00:21:54] himself,

[00:21:55] and

[00:21:55] the

[00:21:56] rat

[00:21:56] was

[00:21:56] very

[00:21:56] pleased

[00:21:57] to

[00:21:57] indulge

[00:21:57] him,

[00:21:58] and

[00:21:58] to

[00:21:59] sprawl

[00:21:59] at

[00:21:59] full

[00:22:00] length

[00:22:00] on

[00:22:00] the

[00:22:01] grass

[00:22:01] and

[00:22:01] rest,

[00:22:02] while

[00:22:02] his

[00:22:03] excited

[00:22:03] friend

[00:22:04] shook

[00:22:04] out

[00:22:05] the

[00:22:05] tablecloth

[00:22:06] and

[00:22:06] spread

[00:22:07] it,

[00:22:07] took

[00:22:08] out

[00:22:08] all

[00:22:08] the

[00:22:08] mysterious

[00:22:09] packets

[00:22:10] one

[00:22:10] by

[00:22:11] one,

[00:22:11] and

[00:22:12] arranged

[00:22:12] their

[00:22:12] contents

[00:22:13] in

[00:22:13] due

[00:22:14] order,

[00:22:15] still

[00:22:15] gasping,

[00:22:16] oh

[00:22:17] my,

[00:22:18] oh

[00:22:19] my,

[00:22:20] at

[00:22:20] each

[00:22:21] fresh

[00:22:21] revelation.

[00:22:23] When

[00:22:23] all was

[00:22:24] ready,

[00:22:25] the

[00:22:25] rat

[00:22:25] said,

[00:22:26] now

[00:22:27] pitch

[00:22:28] in,

[00:22:28] old

[00:22:28] fella,

[00:22:28] and

[00:22:30] the

[00:22:30] mole

[00:22:30] was

[00:22:31] indeed

[00:22:31] very

[00:22:31] glad

[00:22:32] to

[00:22:32] obey,

[00:22:33] for

[00:22:33] he

[00:22:33] had

[00:22:34] started

[00:22:34] his

[00:22:34] spring

[00:22:35] cleaning

[00:22:35] at a

[00:22:36] very

[00:22:36] early

[00:22:36] hour

[00:22:37] that

[00:22:37] morning,

[00:22:38] as

[00:22:38] people

[00:22:38] do,

[00:22:39] and

[00:22:39] had

[00:22:40] not

[00:22:40] paused

[00:22:40] for

[00:22:41] a

[00:22:41] bite,

[00:22:42] and

[00:22:42] he

[00:22:43] had

[00:22:43] been

[00:22:43] through

[00:22:43] a

[00:22:43] very

[00:22:44] great

[00:22:44] deal

[00:22:45] since

[00:22:45] that

[00:22:46] distant

[00:22:46] time,

[00:22:47] which

[00:22:48] now

[00:22:48] seemed

[00:22:48] so

[00:22:49] many

[00:22:49] days

[00:22:49] ago.

[00:22:51] What

[00:22:52] are

[00:22:52] you

[00:22:53] looking

[00:22:53] at,

[00:22:54] said

[00:22:55] the

[00:22:55] rat

[00:22:55] presently,

[00:22:56] when

[00:22:57] the

[00:22:57] edge

[00:22:57] of

[00:22:57] their

[00:22:57] hunger

[00:22:58] was

[00:22:58] somewhat

[00:22:59] dulled,

[00:23:00] and the

[00:23:00] mole's

[00:23:01] eyes

[00:23:01] were

[00:23:01] able

[00:23:01] to

[00:23:02] wander

[00:23:02] off

[00:23:02] the

[00:23:03] tablecloth

[00:23:03] a

[00:23:04] little.

[00:23:05] I'm

[00:23:06] looking,

[00:23:07] said

[00:23:07] the

[00:23:08] mole,

[00:23:08] at

[00:23:09] a

[00:23:09] streak

[00:23:10] of

[00:23:10] bubbles

[00:23:11] that

[00:23:11] I

[00:23:11] see

[00:23:12] travelling

[00:23:13] along

[00:23:14] the

[00:23:14] surface

[00:23:14] of

[00:23:15] the

[00:23:15] water.

[00:23:15] That

[00:23:17] is a

[00:23:17] thing

[00:23:18] that

[00:23:18] strikes

[00:23:19] me

[00:23:19] as

[00:23:20] funny.

[00:23:22] Bubbles?

[00:23:23] Oh,

[00:23:25] said

[00:23:25] the

[00:23:25] rat,

[00:23:26] and

[00:23:26] chirruped

[00:23:27] cheerily,

[00:23:28] in an

[00:23:29] inviting

[00:23:29] sort

[00:23:30] of

[00:23:30] way.

[00:23:31] A

[00:23:32] broad

[00:23:32] glistening

[00:23:33] muzzle

[00:23:34] showed

[00:23:34] itself

[00:23:35] above

[00:23:35] the

[00:23:36] edge

[00:23:36] of

[00:23:36] the

[00:23:36] bank,

[00:23:37] and

[00:23:37] the

[00:23:37] otter

[00:23:38] hauled

[00:23:39] himself

[00:23:39] out

[00:23:40] and

[00:23:40] shook

[00:23:40] the

[00:23:41] water

[00:23:41] from

[00:23:41] his

[00:23:41] coat.

[00:23:44] Greedy,

[00:23:45] he

[00:23:45] observed,

[00:23:46] making

[00:23:47] for

[00:23:47] the

[00:23:47] picnic.

[00:23:48] Why

[00:23:49] didn't

[00:23:49] you

[00:23:49] invite

[00:23:50] me,

[00:23:50] ratty?

[00:23:53] This

[00:23:54] was

[00:23:54] an

[00:23:54] impromptu

[00:23:55] affair,

[00:23:56] explained

[00:23:57] the

[00:23:57] rat.

[00:23:58] By

[00:23:58] the

[00:23:58] way,

[00:23:59] my

[00:23:59] friend

[00:24:00] Mr

[00:24:00] Mole.

[00:24:02] Pleased,

[00:24:03] I'm

[00:24:03] sure,

[00:24:04] said

[00:24:04] the

[00:24:04] otter,

[00:24:05] and

[00:24:05] the

[00:24:05] two

[00:24:06] animals

[00:24:06] were

[00:24:07] friends

[00:24:07] forthwith.

[00:24:09] Such

[00:24:10] a

[00:24:10] rumpus

[00:24:11] everywhere,

[00:24:12] continued

[00:24:12] the

[00:24:13] otter.

[00:24:13] All

[00:24:14] the

[00:24:14] world

[00:24:15] seems

[00:24:15] out

[00:24:16] on

[00:24:16] the

[00:24:16] river

[00:24:16] today.

[00:24:17] I

[00:24:17] came

[00:24:18] up

[00:24:18] this

[00:24:18] backwater

[00:24:19] to

[00:24:19] try

[00:24:20] and

[00:24:20] get

[00:24:20] a

[00:24:20] moment's

[00:24:20] peace,

[00:24:21] and

[00:24:22] then

[00:24:22] stumble

[00:24:22] upon

[00:24:23] you

[00:24:23] fellas.

[00:24:24] At

[00:24:25] least,

[00:24:25] I

[00:24:25] beg

[00:24:26] pardon,

[00:24:26] I

[00:24:27] don't

[00:24:27] exactly

[00:24:27] mean

[00:24:28] that,

[00:24:28] you

[00:24:28] know.

[00:24:29] There

[00:24:30] was a

[00:24:30] rustle

[00:24:31] behind

[00:24:31] them,

[00:24:32] proceeding

[00:24:33] from a

[00:24:33] hedge

[00:24:34] wherein

[00:24:35] last

[00:24:35] year's

[00:24:35] leaves

[00:24:36] still

[00:24:36] clung

[00:24:37] thick,

[00:24:38] and

[00:24:38] a

[00:24:38] stripey

[00:24:39] head

[00:24:39] with

[00:24:40] high

[00:24:40] shoulders

[00:24:41] behind

[00:24:41] it

[00:24:42] peered

[00:24:42] forth

[00:24:43] on

[00:24:43] them.

[00:24:43] come

[00:24:45] on

[00:24:46] old

[00:24:46] badger,

[00:24:47] shouted

[00:24:48] the rat.

[00:24:49] The

[00:24:50] badger

[00:24:50] trotted

[00:24:51] forward

[00:24:51] a pace

[00:24:52] or two,

[00:24:53] then

[00:24:53] grunted,

[00:24:56] company,

[00:24:57] and turned

[00:24:58] his back

[00:24:59] and disappeared

[00:25:00] from view.

[00:25:02] That's

[00:25:03] just

[00:25:04] the

[00:25:04] sort

[00:25:05] of

[00:25:05] fella

[00:25:05] he

[00:25:06] is,

[00:25:06] observed

[00:25:07] the

[00:25:07] disappointed

[00:25:08] rat.

[00:25:09] Simply

[00:25:10] hates

[00:25:11] chatting.

[00:25:12] Now

[00:25:13] we

[00:25:13] won't

[00:25:14] see him

[00:25:14] anymore

[00:25:15] today.

[00:25:16] Well,

[00:25:17] tell us

[00:25:17] who's

[00:25:18] out

[00:25:18] on

[00:25:18] the

[00:25:18] river.

[00:25:20] Toad's

[00:25:21] out

[00:25:21] for

[00:25:21] one,

[00:25:22] replied

[00:25:22] the

[00:25:23] otter.

[00:25:23] In

[00:25:24] his

[00:25:24] brand

[00:25:25] new

[00:25:25] speed

[00:25:25] boat,

[00:25:26] new

[00:25:26] clothes,

[00:25:28] new

[00:25:28] everything.

[00:25:30] The

[00:25:30] two

[00:25:30] animals

[00:25:31] looked

[00:25:31] at each

[00:25:32] other

[00:25:32] and

[00:25:32] laughed.

[00:25:34] Once

[00:25:35] it

[00:25:35] was

[00:25:36] nothing

[00:25:36] but

[00:25:36] sailing,

[00:25:37] said

[00:25:38] the

[00:25:38] rat.

[00:25:39] Then

[00:25:39] he

[00:25:40] tired

[00:25:40] of

[00:25:40] that

[00:25:41] and

[00:25:41] took

[00:25:41] to

[00:25:41] rowing.

[00:25:43] Nothing

[00:25:43] would

[00:25:44] please

[00:25:44] him

[00:25:44] but

[00:25:45] to

[00:25:45] row

[00:25:45] all

[00:25:46] day

[00:25:46] and

[00:25:46] every

[00:25:47] day

[00:25:47] and

[00:25:48] a

[00:25:48] nice

[00:25:48] mess

[00:25:48] he

[00:25:48] made

[00:25:49] of

[00:25:49] it.

[00:25:50] Last

[00:25:50] year

[00:25:51] it

[00:25:51] was

[00:25:51] house

[00:25:51] boating

[00:25:52] and

[00:25:53] we

[00:25:53] all

[00:25:54] had

[00:25:55] to

[00:25:55] go

[00:25:55] and

[00:25:55] stay

[00:25:55] with

[00:25:56] him

[00:25:56] in

[00:25:56] his

[00:25:56] house

[00:25:56] boat

[00:25:57] and

[00:25:58] pretend

[00:25:58] we

[00:25:58] liked

[00:25:59] it.

[00:25:59] He

[00:26:00] was

[00:26:00] going

[00:26:00] to

[00:26:01] spend

[00:26:01] the

[00:26:01] rest

[00:26:01] of

[00:26:01] his

[00:26:01] life

[00:26:02] in

[00:26:02] a

[00:26:02] house

[00:26:02] boat.

[00:26:04] It's

[00:26:04] all

[00:26:04] the

[00:26:05] same

[00:26:05] whatever

[00:26:06] he

[00:26:06] takes

[00:26:06] up

[00:26:07] he

[00:26:07] gets

[00:26:08] tired

[00:26:08] of

[00:26:08] it

[00:26:08] and

[00:26:08] starts

[00:26:09] on

[00:26:09] something

[00:26:09] fresh.

[00:26:12] all

[00:26:12] to

[00:26:15] go

[00:26:15] of

[00:26:16] the

[00:26:16] otter

[00:26:16] reflectively

[00:26:17] but

[00:26:18] no

[00:26:19] stability

[00:26:20] especially

[00:26:21] in

[00:26:21] a

[00:26:21] boat.

[00:26:23] From

[00:26:24] where

[00:26:24] they

[00:26:24] sat

[00:26:25] they

[00:26:25] could

[00:26:25] get

[00:26:25] a

[00:26:25] glimpse

[00:26:26] of

[00:26:26] the

[00:26:26] main

[00:26:26] stream

[00:26:27] across

[00:26:28] the

[00:26:28] island

[00:26:28] that

[00:26:29] separated

[00:26:29] them

[00:26:30] and

[00:26:31] just

[00:26:31] then

[00:26:32] a

[00:26:32] boat

[00:26:33] flashed

[00:26:33] into

[00:26:34] view

[00:26:35] The captain, a short, stout figure, splashing badly and tipping a good deal, but working his hardest.

[00:26:43] The rat stood up and hailed him, but Toad, for it was he, shook his head and settled sternly to his work.

[00:26:54] He'll be out of the boat in a minute if he tips like that, said the rat, sitting down again.

[00:27:01] Of course he will, chuckled the otter.

[00:27:05] Did I ever tell you that good story about Toad and the lockkeeper?

[00:27:10] It happened this way.

[00:27:12] Toad?

[00:27:14] The mole looked down.

[00:27:16] The voice was still in his ears, but the turf whereon he was sprawled was clearly vacant.

[00:27:25] Not an otter to be seen as far as the distant horizon.

[00:27:32] But again, there was a streak of bubbles on the surface of the river.

[00:27:39] The rat hummed a tune, and the mole recollected that animal etiquette forbade any sort of comment on the sudden disappearance of one's friends at any moment, for any reason or no reason whatever.

[00:27:57] Well, well, said the rat.

[00:28:01] I suppose we ought to be moving.

[00:28:05] I wonder which of us had better pack the luncheon basket.

[00:28:10] He did not speak, as if he was frightfully eager for the treat.

[00:28:16] Oh, please let me, said the mole.

[00:28:20] So, of course, the rat let him.

[00:28:24] Packing the basket was not quite such pleasant work as unpacking the basket.

[00:28:30] It never is.

[00:28:32] But the mole was bent on enjoying everything.

[00:28:36] And although just when he had got the basket packed and strapped up tightly, he saw a plate staring up at him from the grass.

[00:28:44] And when the rat pointed out, he saw a fork, which anybody ought to have seen.

[00:28:52] And last of all, behold, the mustard pot, which he had been sitting on without knowing it.

[00:28:59] Still, somehow the thing got finished at last, without much loss of temper.

[00:29:05] The afternoon sun was getting low as the rat sculled gently homewards in a dreamy mood, murmuring poetry things over to himself and not paying much attention to mole.

[00:29:20] But the mole was very full of lunch and self-satisfaction and pride.

[00:29:28] And already quite at home in a boat, so he thought, and was getting a bit restless besides.

[00:29:36] And presently he said,

[00:29:38] Ratty, please, I want to row now.

[00:29:43] The rat shook his head with a smile.

[00:29:46] Not yet, my young friend, he said.

[00:29:52] Wait till you've had a few lessons.

[00:29:55] It's not so easy as it looks.

[00:29:59] The mole was quiet for a minute or two.

[00:30:03] But he began to feel more and more jealous of Rat, sculling so strongly and so easily along.

[00:30:12] And his pride began to whisper that he could do it every bit as well.

[00:30:19] He jumped up and seized the skulls so suddenly that the rat who was gazing out over the water and saying more poetry things to himself was taken by surprise and fell backwards off his seat with his legs in the air for the second time.

[00:30:39] While the triumphant mole took his place and grabbed the skulls with entire confidence.

[00:30:47] Stop it, you silly mole, cried the rat from the bottom of the boat.

[00:30:52] You can't do it.

[00:30:54] You'll have us over.

[00:30:56] The mole flung his skulls back with a flourish and made a great dig at the water.

[00:31:03] He missed the surface altogether.

[00:31:06] His legs flew up above his head and he found himself lying on the top of the rat.

[00:31:14] Greatly alarmed, he made a grab at the side of the boat and the next moment, sploosh.

[00:31:22] Over went the boat and he found himself in the river.

[00:31:28] The rat got hold of the mole's arm.

[00:31:31] Then he did the same by the other side of him and, swimming behind, propelled the helpless animal to shore, hauled him out and set him down on the bank.

[00:31:43] A squashy, pulpy lump of misery.

[00:31:48] When the rat had rubbed him down a bit and wrung some of the wet out of him, he said,

[00:31:54] Now then, old fellow, trot up and down the towing path as fast as you can, till you're warm and dry again, while I dive for the luncheon basket.

[00:32:06] So the dismal mole, wet without and ashamed within, trotted about till he was fairly dry, while the rat plunged into the water again, recovered the boat and finally dived successfully for the luncheon basket.

[00:32:27] When all was ready for a start once more, the mole, limp and dejected, took his seat in the stern of the boat.

[00:32:38] And as they set off, he said,

[00:32:40] Ratty, my generous friend, I am very sorry indeed for my foolish and ungrateful conduct.

[00:32:54] My heart quite fails me when I think how I might have lost that beautiful luncheon basket.

[00:33:03] Will you overlook it this once and forgive me and let things go on as before?

[00:33:12] That's all right, bless you, responded the rat cheerfully.

[00:33:17] What's a little wet to a water rat?

[00:33:21] I'm more in the water than out of it most days.

[00:33:25] Don't you think any more about it?

[00:33:28] And look here, I really think you had better come and stop with me for a little time.

[00:33:36] It's very plain and rough, you know, not like Toad's house at all.

[00:33:41] But you haven't seen that yet?

[00:33:44] Still, I can make you comfortable.

[00:33:46] And I'll teach you how to row and to swim.

[00:33:51] And soon, you'll be as handy on the water as any of us.

[00:33:57] The mole was so touched by his kind manner of speaking

[00:34:01] that he could find no voice to answer him.

[00:34:04] And he had to brush away a tear or two with the back of his paw.

[00:34:10] When they got home, the rat made a bright fire in the parlour

[00:34:15] and planted the mole in an armchair in front of it,

[00:34:20] having fetched a dressing gown and slippers for him

[00:34:23] and told him river stories till suppertime.

[00:34:28] Very thrilling stories they were too,

[00:34:31] to an earth-dwelling animal like mole.

[00:34:35] Supper was a most cheerful meal.

[00:34:38] But very shortly afterwards,

[00:34:41] a terribly sleepy mole had to be escorted upstairs

[00:34:45] by his considerate host to the best bedroom,

[00:34:50] where he soon laid his head on the pillow

[00:34:54] in great peace and contentment,

[00:34:57] knowing that his newfound friend,

[00:35:01] the river, was lapping the sill of his window.

[00:35:06] This day was only the first of many similar ones for the mole,

[00:35:12] each of them longer and full of interest

[00:35:16] as the ripening summer moved onward.

[00:35:20] He learnt to swim and to row

[00:35:24] and entered into the joy of running water.

[00:35:28] And with his ear to the reed stems,

[00:35:32] he caught at intervals

[00:35:34] something of what the wind went whispering

[00:35:38] so constantly among them.

[00:35:41] He just told him that his newfound friend

[00:35:41] and he just like it.